For anyone who's interested (because strangely, as much as I hate numbers, I do sort of enjoy statistical... thingies...*), here are some brief stats on my querying:
Years Querying: 4
Books Queried: 4
Total Queries Sent**: 196
Partial Requests: 17
Full Requests: 30
Revise & Resubmit Requests: 5
No Replies: 61
Form Rejections: 102
Offers of Representation: 1
And for this book in particular:
Date I started writing first draft: 5/30/2010
Date of first query: 8/16/2010***
Date of last query: 8/24/2012
Date of offer of representation: 1/4/2013
Number of drafts: 32
Days spent writing first draft: 42
Days spent editing/revising/proofing: 498
Amount of times I wanted to leap off a cliff: 1,000
Amount of times I seriously considered stopping writing: 0
Yes, some people get lucky and land agents with their first book. Some people's first books pop out brilliant! Some people learn how to edit and revise far sooner than I did. Alternately, some people stick with just one project to the end, no matter how long it takes, rather than bopping around a few different book ideas first. There's no right or wrong way to do this. But I do think that one thing about the agent-hunting (and editor/book deal-hunting!) process is true across the board:
You need to be stubborn as hell.****
Lucky for me, I was born obstinate. ;)
* I mean, not enough to actually learn the terms for all of this stuff, but stats are fun! Or something!
** across all 4 projects
*** far too soon, you will note!
**** stubborn about not giving up, that is. Not stubborn about revisions and stuff. That's a whole 'nother ball game!
Congrats! I hear you about being stubborn as hell. I think it's a requirement for success in this business. :)
ReplyDeleteMay you have a swift sale!!
Congratulations on your new agent! And you're right; this business is for people who persist, not the ones who give up way too soon. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I may not think numerically (being such a ludicrous word gal) but this really helps me to accept that patience needs to be a virtue I continue to cultivate in 2013.
ReplyDeleteLove this! Your perseverance has paid off. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats Ellen on your big news! :D
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteIn actual fact loaded content and awfully positive information. I got it my way out from at this juncture. I greatly propose his/her works with the functional informative information. Thanks a lot………..click here
ReplyDeleteTo tell the certainty this is a kind post concerning this topic. I got an unpolluted solution from here. Also I can refer to you all http://www.bestessaywriting.org here to get educational helps. However will wait for more posts from the blogger. Thanks a lot…….
ReplyDelete